International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025: The Reality Of Dating And Marriage Challenges In India

Add as a preferred source on Google

On December 3, 2025 the world marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Established by the United Nations in 1992, this day highlights the rights, dignity, and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. In 2025, the theme is "Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress".

Photo Credit: Freepik/AI-generated

On this note, let's put the spotlight on the human side of inclusion: love, relationships, and marriage. Because let's face it, for many disabled people in India, these remain areas full of stigma, silence, and misunderstanding.

Who We Are Talking About

In India, around 26.8 million people live with a disability, spanning physical, visual, hearing, speech, and other categories. Laws like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 exist to protect rights and promote equality. Yet when it comes to dating, intimacy, and marriage, the lived reality is far from ideal.

Disabled people want what anyone else wants - companionship, connection, love. And yet, society often treats these desires as secondary, invisible, or even taboo.

Society's Attitudes: A Blend Of Progress And Prejudice

Some recent surveys suggest hope. Among 30,000 young Indians on a disability-friendly matchmaking platform, 61% said they were okay with a partner "with or without a disability". That challenges the stereotype that disabled people are inherently "undesirable" or "asexual."

But older data shows that bias runs deep. A 2011 online poll found that 59% of women and 48% of men refused to marry someone with a physical disability. Only a small fraction - 7% of women and 15% of men said they would consider it.

Clearly, the reality is fragmented. Younger generations may be more open, but traditions, family expectations, and social stigma still create enormous barriers.

Love, Intimacy, And The Silence Around Them

Much of the discussion around disability focuses on rights, employment, and education - rarely on relationships and sexuality. For many disabled Indians, intimacy isn't just discouraged, it's erased from the conversation entirely.

Studies highlight a lack of research on sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities, especially women. Cultural attitudes often frame disabled people as dependent, asexual, or "less deserving," denying them agency in their love lives.

At the same time, real stories show desire and connection exist. People with disabilities seek relationships, marriage, and companionship even if society doesn't fully acknowledge it.

When Love Finds A Way

Despite obstacles, relationships involving disabled people are real and meaningful. Specialized matchmaking platforms in India show that disabled individuals are actively seeking partners, challenging stereotypes that disability excludes romance.

But these relationships work only when there is honesty, empathy, and respect. Both partners need to understand needs, support each other, and navigate societal pressures together.

Barriers That Still Persist

Even today, several challenges remain:

Stigma and prejudice: Disability is often seen as a "defect" or "liability," making families hesitant to consider marriage.

Silence on sexual and reproductive rights: Conversations about intimacy, consent, and reproduction remain taboo.

Limited platforms and support: Mainstream matrimonial sites rarely cater to disabled users; specialized platforms exist but are niche.

Intersectional disadvantages: Gender, economic status, and location amplify challenges, especially for women and rural populations.

Overcoming these barriers requires more than policy, it needs a change in attitudes and awareness.

What IDPD 2025 Asks Of Us

The 2025 theme emphasizes inclusion in all parts of life and that includes relationships. Inclusion isn't just about jobs, accessibility, or legal rights. It's also about acknowledging that disabled people have the same emotional, romantic, and family needs as anyone else.

As people, we can challenge prejudice, respect individual choice, and normalize conversations around dating and marriage for persons with disabilities.

Photo Credit: Freepik/AI-generated

Disability does not make love impossible - societal stigma and silence do. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025, it's time we recognize that inclusion must extend to intimacy and relationships.

Real inclusion means accepting that persons with disabilities have the same hopes, fears, and desires as anyone else. And in doing so, we make society not just accessible, but truly human.